'Weeds' producer signs WGA agreement

Lionsgate, the producer of Showtime series Weeds and AMC's Mad Men, has reached an interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America.

The deal was finalised late Thursday along with one for Marvel Entertainment. In December, the WGA announced that it would seek deals with individual producers; it has now signed twelve such deals, including one with Dave Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company.

"We are pleased Lionsgate has joined the growing number of companies that have signed interim agreements with the Writers Guild," said WGA West president Patric M. Verrone and WGA East president Michael Winship in a joint statement. "Lionsgate is considered a leader in the industry, and its signing an interim agreement again confirms that it is possible for both writers to be compensated fairly and respectfully for their work and for companies to operate profitably."

Pre-production on Weeds' fourth season is expected to get underway shortly.